Sailing the Caribbean

For years sailing the Caribbean has been an adventure for everyone, its not all pirates and ghost like in the movies but a beautiful oasis of enchantment of beauty coastal waters and white sandy beaches plus add a tinge of romance to its alluring history history. What a wonderful way to spend your honeymoon even a wedding cruising the rich Caribbean seas.

These days we are lucky to have a variety of choices in how we cruise the Caribbean. Cruise lines now cater to a variety of themes and types of cruises desired by the passengers. To mention a few ideas, you can go on romantic, single, family, party, adventure, shopping, beach-lovers, divers and snorkelers, golfers, gamblers and fitness cruises. You name it, they've got it!

One cruise line excelling in offering a romantic cruise is Holland America Line. Their ship, Westerdam, sails with half the number of guests of other Caribbean ships. It has cozy lounges, wide teak decks, live music at lunch, and the pool area has a sliding glass dome so you can swim even in cool weather. The staterooms are spacious with double closets and deep dresser-drawers. You can dine on their extensively varied and delicious cuisine at tables for two. Or you can hide away in your stateroom ordering from their 24-hour room service. There is an on-board fitness center (with masseuses), a casino, sports deck and theater.

You never even have to leave the ship, but what a waste it would be to miss the ports-of-call. On their seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise you depart from Ft. Lauderdale, making your first stop at Philipsburg, St. Maarten. You can go sailing or party on the beach on the French side. The Dutch side offers cheeses, chocolates (heaven to me!), and Delftware.

The next stop is St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. One third of the island and much of the coral reef is preserved as a national park. It is a beautiful place for snorkeling and scuba diving. Next comes St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with probably the best beaches and the best shopping (duty-free Charlotte Amalie). The last stop is Nassau, the Bahamas. You can feed the sharks at Coral Island Marine Park or ride through town in a horse-drawn surrey. There are forts to explore and coral reefs to snorkel.

Now, what about all of you party animals out there? You know who you are. You want romance, but you don't want to sit around. Well, Carnival Cruise Lines just might be your ticket.

Carnival's ships are boldly decorated with all kinds of surprises in color designs and theme rooms. How about having a drink in a bar designed like King Tut's tomb? Or how about dancing in a disco with a yellow and black checkerboard dance floor?

The food is varied and delicious-from seafood to Italian, Chinese, hamburgers and buffets. The seating is mostly six to eight persons at a table, with two predefined times for each of the three meals a day. You will definitely be meeting new people every day. The dining rooms are usually on an upper deck with big windows to let the sunshine in and allow views of the ocean or ports. You will never be bored with all the activities Carnival Cruises offers.

In planning your honeymoon, consult your travel agent, since prices and amenities vary widely. It is also very important to consider you and your spouse's personalities when selecting your cruise. All in all, cruising is a great way to honeymoon, so sail away!